Antioxidant vitamin status of obese patients in terms of the risk of comorbidities

BACKGROUND: Synchronously optimized concentrations of vitamins C, E, A, carotenoids and their ratios in blood plasma help to prevent or slow down the development of many alimentary-dependent diseases and their complications. AIMS: to characterize the vitamin status of obese patients from the standpoint of the risk of progression of existing and development of associated diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational single-site cross-sectional study of the sufficiency with antioxidant vitamins in 81 patients (21 men, 60 women) aged 20–75 years with body mass index 40,7±1,2 kg/m2, enrolled for treatment from April to June in Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology had been conducted. The concentration of α- and γ-tocopherols, retinol, ascorbic acid, β-carotene was determined in blood serum and their ratios with lipid profile were calculated. RESULTS: Indicators of vitamin status were determined in 35 patients with obesity, 27 patients with obesity and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), 19 patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The concentration of ascorbic acid in more than 50% of patients did not reach the optimal level (50 µmol/l). Compared to patients of other groups, patients with T2DM were better supplied with vitamin E, but worse with other vitamins. They have a non-optimal ratio of concentrations of vitamin C and E more often compared with patients of other groups (p≤0.050). Among them, the combined suboptimal level of vitamin C and β-carotene (<0.4 µmol/l) was detected 1.6–1.8 fold more often. The lack of antioxidants in patients with T2DM according to simultaneously reduced vitamin C/vitamin E ratio (<1.5) and β-carotene level was detected 3.3-fold more often, synchronously lowered vitamin C/vitamin E ratio and vitamin C level – 2.4-fold. γ-tocopherol level in serum of patients with T2DM tended to increase compared with that in patients with obesity (p=0.063) and CVD (p=0.081), γ-tocopherol/triacylglycerides ratio was 1.5-fold higher (respectively р=0.009 и р=0.076). Only in 2 patients with obesity and 2 patients with CVD all serum indicators corresponded to the optimal level of all vitamins. In terms of α-tocopherol/cholesterol (<5 µmol/mol), an increased risk of myocardial infarction was detected in 10.5–42.9% of the examined patients. Glucose level was positively associated with serum levels of α- and γ-tocopherols, as well as cholesterol-adjusted individual tocopherols; while glycemia was inversely associated with triacylglycerides-standardized individual tocopherols, as well as β-carotene and vitamin C/vitamin E ratio. CONCLUSIONS: In most patients, a non-optimal serum vitamin content was found according to one or several parameters. In order to vitamin C/vitamin E ratio, patients with T2DM need to increase vitamin C intake. Increasing serum β-carotene and achieving an optimal C/E ratio will help to prevent an increase in glycemia

The inhibition of Bid expression by Akt leads to resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells often show increased activity of the PI3K/Akt pathway. In addition, we have previously shown that EOC ascites induce Akt activation in the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-sensitive EOC cell line, CaOV3, leading to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis inhibition. In this study, we investigated the role of Akt in intrinsic resistance to TRAIL, which is common in EOC cells. We report that Akt activation reduces the sensitivity of EOC cells to TRAIL. TRAIL-resistant SKOV3ip1 and COV2 cells were sensitized to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by PI3K or Akt inhibitors although inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway did not interfere with the recruitment and processing of caspase-8 to the death-inducing signaling complex. Conversely, overexpression of Akt1 in TRAIL-sensitive cells promoted resistance to TRAIL. Although the fact that TRAIL-induced caspase-8 activation was observed in both sensitive and resistant cell lines, Bid cleavage occurred only in sensitive cells or in SKOV3ip1 cells treated with LY294002. Bid expression was low in resistant cells and Akt activation downregulated its expression. Depletion of Bid by siRNA in OVCAR3 cells was associated with a decrease in TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Overexpression of Bid only in SKOV3ip1 cells enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Simultaneous blockade of Akt pathway further increased TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Thus, Akt acts upstream of mitochondria and inhibits TRAIL-induced apoptosis by decreasing Bid protein levels and possibly inhibiting its cleavage

Evaluation of the Somatotype of Patients with Class 1, 2 and 3 Obesity According to the Heath-Carter Scheme Using Various Formulas

AIM. The purpose of this work was to study the somatotypological characteristics of patients with non-communicable diseases and obesity of class 1, 2 and 3; compare three methods to evaluate the somatotype using three types of complex formulas according to the Heath-Carter scheme; to check the reliability and informativeness of the method of bioimpedance evaluation of somatotype components by regression formulas used in bioimpedance analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS. 145 patients (67 men, mean age 41.4±10.3 years and 78 women, mean age 40.6±9.4 years) with class 1, class 2 and class 3 obesity, were examined at the clinic of the Federal Research Center of Nutrition and Biotechnology. Anthropometric measurements were taken. Bioimpedance evaluation of body composition was performed using the analyzer ABC-01 "Medas". The somatotype was determined according to the Heath-Carter scheme using three types of complex formulas – based on anthropometry and based on a bioimpedance study of body composition. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. Based on anthropometric and bioimpedance studies, a characterization of somatotypes according to the Heath-Carter scheme in patients with alimentary-dependent pathologies and class 1, class 2 and class 3 obesity is presented. Significant differences were shown in the values of the somatotype components ENDO and MESO, obtained by calculation using the formulas implemented in the software of the bioimpedance analyzer, from the values obtained by calculating by formulas based on anthropometry. CONCLUSION. The degree of gender dimorphism was different when determining the somatotype according to the Heath-Carter scheme in patients with class 1, class 2 and class 3 obesity, and it depended on what particular formulas were used to calculate the scores. Pronounced gender dimorphism was noted when using both versions of the regression formulas, because they take into account the gender of the individual being examined. It was shown that these formulas are not applicable for evaluation of the components of the somatotype in persons with obesity of class 1, class 2 and class, because the coefficients of determination do not correspond to those previously obtained for a group of people with normal BMI values. We consider it expedient to develop new regression equations for evaluation of the somatotype of the above category of patients